A DANCE student who shaved her head for charity was so scared of what her parents would think she didn't tell them until the day itself.

Sharon Payne, of Eton Road, Cranford, sacrificed her long brown locks last September in aid of children's charity the Little Princess Trust.

The 21-year-old has raised nearly £1,400 for the trust, which makes wigs out of real hair for children undergoing cancer treatment - smashing her original goal of £500.

Sharon's efforts have seen her nominated for the fundraising website JustGiving's national awards, now in their third year. But she was so worried about what her parents would think she nearly didn't go through with it.

"It was a really difficult decision at first. Everyone was against the idea but I felt passionately about it," she said. "My boyfriend's father had just passed away after having cancer and my half-sister Sarah died of it aged 20 when I was still a baby. I didn't tell my parents until the day I did it, and they both said it was a silly idea.

"My dad was worried at first that it might bring back memories of when Sarah had cancer but now they're both proud of me and my friends have said it's amazing what I did. I thought my boyfriend might freak out but everyone was so supportive and I can't believe how generous people have been with their donations."

Sharon, who studied at St Mark's Catholic School, in Hounslow, is in her final year at the Royal Academy of Dance. As well as raising money for the charity, Sharon donated her hair to the Little Princess Trust, to be made into a wig.

Sharon was nominated for JustGiving's Young Fundraiser of the Year award, the winner of which is due to be announced on March 1.

More than 380,000 fundraisers and 8,000 charities have used the website in the last year, raising more than £200 million for good causes.